Families walk in support of juvenile diabetes research

Dave RobackWalkers participate in activities before the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk.

AGAWAM – Some walkers came alone, others came in large groups sporting tie- dye T-shirts and even red capes, but all of them came to walk in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“We get about 4,000 walkers for this event. Families and friends come together to raise awareness and money for research,” said Lisa W. Ratcliff, executive director of the North Central Connecticut and Western Massachusetts chapter of the foundation.

The foundation held its annual walk Sunday at Six Flags New England to support adults and children living with the disease.

“Although it is called juvenile diabetes it is no longer seen just in children,” Ratcliff said. “There are three million people living with juvenile diabetes also known as Type 1 diabetes and many of them are people who were diagnosed with the disease as adults.”

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that comes on suddenly and requires daily insulin shots. Complications from the disease include everything from kidney failure to heart attacks, blindness and in some cases death.

The event was chaired by University of Massachusetts, Amherst, head football coach Kevin Morris and his wife Rebecca Morris, who was diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago. The event also included food, music and a walk through the amusement park.

Many families joined with their friends to show support for loved ones dealing with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Michael J. Yunes, a radiation oncologist at the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, sported a red cape that read Sam’s Superheroes on the back. Sam is Yunes’ six-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last November.

“We wanted to be a part of the walk because the foundation has been an important part of our lives in the last year and has really helped our family,” he said.

Yunes said it has been difficult, but his daughter is doing very well. About 40 walkers joined Yunes and his family for the walk.

“The walk is a way to get awareness of the disease out and also a chance for families to show support for one another,” Ratcliff said.

She said the foundation hopes to raise $450,000 from the walk.

“Its important to note that 85 percent of the money we raise goes directly towards research and research-related education,” she said.